Folding chicken-coop.



C. A. JONES FOLDING CHICKEN COOP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 5.1915.

1 1 99,079 Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Fl qJ.

anmntoz GecIZA. 17072615" attoznwq wax u c on a C. A. JONES.

FOLDING CHICKEN COOP.

APPLICATION mm MAY 5. 1915.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

006009000'000000 01020202920202.2020?ofofof.

Witvmooeo Caz'LAJoizas Chicane UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CECIL A. JONES, OF NORTH ZULCH, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONEHALF TO THEODORE M. SHANNON, OF NORTH ZULCH, TEXAS.

FOLDING CHICKEN-COOP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 26, 1916.

Application filed May 5, 1915. Serial No. 26,064.

T 0 all/whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnon. A. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Zulch, in the county of Madison and State of Texas, have invented new and useful Improvements in Folding Chicken- Coops, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in crates and has particular reference to poultry crates.

The invention contemplates the provision of a crate of this character wherein the side and end walls, together with the top may be folded in compact form for shipment, combined with a novel construction of means for locking the parts in either folded or set up position.

In the drawing forming part of this application like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the crate ready for use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View. Fig. 4 is a perspective view with the crate folded. Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary View of one corner of the cover showing the association of the locking means therewith. Fig. 6 is a similar View of one corner of the cover at the opposite end thereof. Fig. 7

shows a modified form of the manner of securing the wire fabric to the side and end bottom by means of the strips 13 passed.

through openings in the lower edge of the frame at spaced intervals, the strips being formed to provide loops 14, and terminally secured to the longitudinal edges of the bottom 5. Rising from the opposite end edges of the bottom 5 are vertical flanges 15 to which the end walls 7 are hingedly con nected in any suitable manner. By reason of this arrangement the side walls 6 are permitted to fold directly upon the bottom 5, after which the end walls 7 are folded in wardly above the said side Walls. position of parts the cover 9 is then placed over the side and end walls, the depending flange 16 of which embracing the edges of the bottom 5 and is of a depth equal to the combined height of the bottom with the side and end walls in folded position. In placing the cover in this position, the pins 17 projecting inwardly from one end of the flanged portion of the cover are arranged within suitable openings in the bottom 5, while the opposite end of the cover is fixedly secured tothe opposite endof the bottom by means of the pins 18 carried at the opposite ends of a flat spring 19, projecting through suitable openings in the flange 16 and into suitable openings in the opposite end of the bottom 5. As will be readily apparent the pins 18 are effectively held within the openings in the bottom, 5 under tension of the spring 19, thereby locking the cover in position upon the bottom and confining the side and end walls in folded position between the cover and the bottom 5. As shown in Fig. 4 the crate can be folded in the manner hereinabove described so as to occupy a minimum amount of space when not in use for shipping purposes or the like.

Now when it is desired to use the crate, the pins 18 are first disengaged from the openings in the bottom 5, after which this end of the cover can be slightly elevated, and moved endwise to disengage the pins 17 from the openings at the opposite end of the bottom 5, thus permitting the cover to be wholly separated therefrom. The end walls 7 are then moved to vertical position, and the side walls swung outwardly to engage the flanges 20 formed on the end walls 7, the latter supporting the side walls in set up position until the cover is placed in position thereon. In this position of parts the pins 17 are passed through the openings 21 in one of the end walls 7, while the pins 18 project through similar openings 22 in the opposite end wall 7, when the cover is operatively positioned upon the crate. As above stated the flanges 20 prevent outward swinging movement of the side walls 6 while the pins 17 and 18 are arranged inwardly of the side walls 6 and thus prevent inward swinging movement thereof when the parts In this are in set up position. The pins 18 are effectively held in position within the openings in one of the end walls 7 under tension of the spring 19, and as will be apparent with the cover in operative position both the side and end walls are effectively locxed in upright position.

The cover 8 is provided with a central opening 23 to permit access to be had to the crate when desired, this opening being controlled by means of a sliding door 24: guided in its movements by means of the channellike bars 25 extending transversely of the cover and arranged at the opposite sides of the opening. The cover is provided with a knob or handle 26 for operating the same.

While the wire fabric may be secured in any suitable manner to the metallic frames constituting the side and end walls of the crate, it is preferred that these frames be punched at intervals as at 27 shown in the modified form in Fig. 7, and the material bent to provide hook-like portions 28 to which the wire fabric is adapted to be secured.

It is to be noted that in the construction of my device a single locking means carried by the cover 8 is used in connection with the bottom 5 in the folded position of parts, while the same locking means is adapted for operative association with the end walls 7 when the parts are arranged in set up position to prevent collapsing thereof.

It is believed that from the foregoing description the nature and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent without requiring a more extended explanation and therefore the same has been omitted. However I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown and described, as the same is merely illustrative and that various changes may be made when desired as fall within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is A crate comprising a bottom, inwardly foldable side and end walls hinged to said bottom, corner flanges on said end walls and adapted to engage the side walls exteriorly thereof in set up position, a cover having a depending flange adapted to embrace the upper edges of said walls, spring pressed pins normally projecting through openings in the flange of said cover, and adapted to project through similar openings in said end walls with the cover in position, said pins being disposed inwardly of the side walls and functionating to hold the latter in set up position, said cover being adapted to be arranged on said side and end walls in folded position, whereupon said pins project through openings in the bottom to hold said parts associated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CECIL A. JONES.

Witnesses:

WM. R1012, C. A. GRIFFIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

